Under the Panther's Protection [Black Panthers 3]

by Leah Brooke

  “I don’t like having decisions made for me. Neither does Fiona. She’s strong-willed and would fight like hell if she knew that I chose her because of her scent.”

  Mitch smiled. “That might have been what initially attracted you to her, but I know you well enough to know that you wouldn’t be this crazy about a woman just because you think she smelled good.”

  With a shrug, Mitch looked out toward the mountains again, the reflection of the moonlight on them the only light in the distance. “Think of it as chemistry. I understand that’s what draws normal people together. Love supposedly grows in time, although it didn’t seem to take long for it to happen to Leland, Joe, and Glenna.”

  With a sigh of frustration, Joshua braced his forearms on the top of the railing and looked out. “Fiona’s had me turned inside out since the moment I met her.”

  Mitch turned to him again with another smile. “Look at it this way. We know our mates as soon as we meet them. Saves a lot of time.”

  “When the time comes, I’m going to be interested in finding out if you feel the same way.”

  * * * *

  Lingering over his second cup of coffee, Joshua tucked his cell phone away, mentally picturing the changes he would have to make to his bathroom while Mitch’s words of the night before played over and over in his mind.

  He’d spent all night thinking about her, and sometime in the middle of the night, he’d come to the realization that he’d already fallen in love with his mate.

  He’d accepted it with more ease than he’d expected, a strange sense of calm settling over him.

  Dane dropped into the chair next to him. “Did you order the bathtub?”

  “Just finished. It’s called a soaking tub. I’ll pick it up this afternoon.”

  “I’ll go with you. We should be able to have it installed by tonight. Did all the furniture come?”

  “Yes, but I’m still waiting for the wall ovens. They’re coming the day after tomorrow. If Fiona wants to bake, she won’t have to come to the farmhouse to do it.”

  “We should get the rest of the brush on the hill taken care of today.”

  Joshua stiffened, getting to his feet, his heart pounding furiously. Scanning the area for the source of his unease, he started down the steps, almost running into Vincent, in panther form, running around the side of the house.

  Vincent shifted, his eyes wide. “Fiona’s here. No one told me she was coming. She’s coming up the driveway now. She almost saw me.”

  Joshua started toward the front, excited to see his mate and worried that something was wrong. “I didn’t know she was coming. Get out of here. I don’t want my mate to see you naked.”

  From beside him, Dane chuckled. “Don’t worry about your mate’s tub. I’ll pick it up later. Something tells me you’re going to be busy for a while. Joshua?”

  Joshua kept moving, his mind consumed with Fiona. “Yeah?”

  “How did you know?”

  “How did I know what?”

  “You jumped to your feet and looked around before Vincent got here. You felt something, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah. But I didn’t know what it was. Just…something.”

  “Make sure you tell Mitch. Dane is working with him to create some kind of archive. We all need as much information as we can about this. We can’t lose everything the way our parents did.”

  The thought of losing Fiona had him moving faster.

  Joshua’s cock was already hard as he rounded the side of the house, something tight and hard inside his guts softening and warming when the scent of his mate drifted to him.

  He opened the door before she even turned off the ignition, catching her when she stepped out of the car and flung herself into his arms.

  Fiona leapt at Joshua, confident that he would catch her.

  She’d spent all night trembling in anticipation of seeing Joshua again, but she’d forgotten the impact of his presence on her senses.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, and her legs around his waist, she pressed against him and met his kiss with her own.

  Her moan of pleasure seemed to come from deep inside her soul, the feel of his heat and strength surrounding her like coming home.

  Like heaven.

  The heat of his hard chest against her nipples shot heat to her slit, making her pussy clench and clit throb, every erogenous zone screaming to life.

  His big hand tightened on her bottom, and with a hand in her hair, he broke off their kiss to stare down at her with glowing eyes. “Is everything okay?”

  Fiona bent forward, kissing the corner of his mouth. “Everything will be as soon as you’re inside me. I came to talk to you.”

  Striding toward his house, Joshua sipped at her lips. “Talk.”

  Reveling in the taste and feel of him, Fiona tightened her hands in his hair and pressed her slit against his hard stomach. “Don’t want to talk yet. I want you to take me.”

  He took the steps to his porch, the motion of his body moving against hers heating her blood even more. “Oh, I’m going to take you, my mate.”

  He kicked the door closed behind him and strode through the living room to the hallway. “I need to know what you want to talk to me about. You flew early this morning for a reason.” He started to lower her to the bed.

  “Nope. Drove.”

  He lifted her against him again, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “You drove all night?”

  “Yes.” Fiona tightened her legs around him and nibbled at his bottom lip. “My aunt and uncle went to visit my mom so I could leave.”

  Joshua made a sound in his throat and lowered her to the bed, covering her body with his own as he used his teeth on her neck, right below her earlobe. “If you ever do anything so irresponsible again, I’m going to paddle your ass.”

  “Can’t. Besides, I was afraid to fly.”

  “Why can’t I, and you don’t have to be afraid to fly. Brock and I would have come to get you.”

  Tears blurred her vision, her stomach knotting.

  She’d spent all night planning how to tell him, but when he looked into her eyes with hunger, concern, and something else—something that brought a lump to her throat—Fiona drew a shaky breath and blurted it out. “I’m pregnant.”

  Joshua stilled, staring into her eyes for so long she began to get nervous.

  Swallowing heavily, she shrugged, fighting to keep her tone even while her insides felt raw. “I just thought you should know. It doesn’t mean that I expect—”

  “Shut up.” Lifting her shirt, Joshua pressed his lips to her belly. “You’re carrying my baby.”

  Stunned by the awe and wonder in his voice, Fiona ran her fingers through his hair, blinking back tears. “You sound a little surprised. You sounded pretty sure before.”

  Joshua lifted his head, his eyes glittering darkly. “I’d hoped.”

  His big hands moved with incredible gentleness, stripping her of her clothes and brushing his lips over each inch of skin he exposed. “How long have you known?”

  “Hmm. I took a home pregnancy test three days ago, but I wanted to double check with a doctor before I told you. He confirmed it yesterday.”

  He tossed her socks aside and slid up her body again, unfastening her jeans and parting the sides. “Why didn’t you tell me when I talked to you last night?”

  Fiona sucked in a breath at the feel of his warm lips brushing her thighs, her knees, and then her calves as he slid her jeans and panties off. Her pussy clenched incessantly, and she found herself lifting into his touch to get closer. “Hmm. I wanted to surprise you. Oh God. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.”

  Scrambling to her knees, she reached for the hem of his shirt. “Christ, I want you inside me.”

  Joshua whipped her shirt off and then hers. “You’re pregnant. I should take this slow.”

  “Fuck slow.”

  He stripped her bra from her, his lips taking hers again as he tossed it aside. “Agreed.”

  He slid from the bed, sliding
a hand over her breast and belly before hurriedly unfastening his jeans. “Why didn’t you tell me last night when I asked you?”

  Kneeling on the bed in front of him, she ran her hands down his chest, wrapping them around his cock as soon as he freed it. “I—”

  She bent to run her tongue over the head of his cock, licking off the bead of moisture at the tip. “I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”

  Taking his cock deep, she smiled around it at his throaty groan. Lifting her head, she wrapped her hand around his cock and began to stroke him. “It seemed like the kind of thing that should be told in person. I needed to see your face when I told you.”

  She bent her head, closing her lips over his cock again, the taste of him and his deep groans of pleasure adding to her arousal.

  Gripping his hips, she moved her mouth on his cock, taking it as deep as she could.

  Joshua made a tortured sound in his throat and, gripping her shoulders, pulled her from his cock and eased her to her back.

  Covering her body with his, he parted her thighs and settled between them. “You had to know I’d be happy about it. I asked you every fucking day if you were pregnant.”

  Bracing his weight on his elbows, Joshua ran a hand through her hair and studied her features. His eyes narrowed, his gaze speculative. “You thought I asked every day because you think I was nervous that you would be pregnant.”

  Uneasy at how easily he could read her, Fiona glanced away and shrugged. “Most men wouldn’t be so happy to find out that the woman he barely knows got knocked up in a fit of passion.”

  Joshua’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not most men.” He thrust into her, his eyes flaring at her gasp of pleasure. “And as for the fit of passion, we’re about to have another one.”

  Digging her heels into his tight butt, Fiona lifted into him, crying out when his lips closed over her nipple. “You scare the hell out of me.”

  Lifting his head, he slid a hand beneath her neck, stroking faster. “You have no reason to fear me. Ever. I would die to protect you.”

  Inwardly smiling, she cried out again, the vibrations inside her travelling to her clit and making her wild with pleasure. “I’m not worried about my life. I don’t think that’ll ever be an issue. It’s my heart I’m worried about.”

  She cried out again and again, the feel of his hot cock stretching her and the vibrations against her inner walls so intense that she began to whimper. “Joshua!”

  Bracing a hand on either side of her head, he lifted his weight from her, his thrusts going deeper and becoming more deliberate. He bent to scrape his teeth over her neck with a primitive growl. “I’d never hurt you. I’ve got you, my mate. Take the pleasure.”

  Lifting himself to stare down at her again, he quickened his strokes, every ridge of his cock creating a mind-numbing friction that had her writhing beneath him.

  He slid one big hand under her bottom, lifting her into his thrusts and going impossibly deeper. “Yeah. That’s it.”

  Fiona closed her eyes and threw her head back, pressing her knees against his sides. “So good!”

  Her body tightened, the pleasure and heat growing with every deep thrust of his cock, the vibrations and heat stronger than ever.

  “It’s perfect.” Joshua adjusted his grip, pressing a finger against her puckered opening. “Perfect and all mine.”

  The intimate and too-decadent sensation had her sucking in a breath, her eyes flying open. “Joshua?”

  His eyes, hooded and glittering, held hers. “You’re all mine, my mate, and I plan to explore all of the pleasures of having you as my own.”

  The tingling in her clit, her pussy, and her bottom hole sharpened, the combination of sensations overwhelming. “It’s too much! Oh my God!”

  She came hard, her pussy clenching, milking his cock while her bottom clenched on his finger, making the sensation even more extreme.

  He held her securely, controlling her frantic movements with an ease that made her feel incredibly feminine and secure. “Never too much between us, my mate.”

  He thrust deep and came with a deep groan, the feel of his cock pulsing inside her setting off another wave of pleasure that he dragged out by slowly thrusting again, his cock stroking her inner walls and gradually easing her down.

  His arms tightened around her, the strength and solidness of his embrace easing her sense of vulnerability and making her feel safe. “My mate.”

  His lips brushed her temple, and with a soft groan, he tightened the hand on her bottom and rolled to his back.

  Running his hands over her trembling body, Joshua kissed her hair again, still reeling from her news.

  She was his and carried his child.

  Not wanting her to get chilled, he pulled the blanket over her, loving the feel of her sprawled over him with his cock still inside her. “How long can you stay?”

  The thought of her leaving again chilled him.

  He needed her with him so he could take care of her and keep her safe.

  “I have to drive back tomorrow morning. My aunt and uncle are only staying until tomorrow afternoon, and I want to be back with Mom before dark.”

  “You’re not driving back. Brock and I will take you back, and I’ll return your rental car to the airport here. I’ll arrange for another for you—”

  “I don’t need another car. I can drive my parents’ car.”

  “You’re coming back when your dad gets home, right?”

  He needed to talk to Mitch and have him check her out, and before he could do that, he would have to tell her the truth about him. He didn’t want to do that, though, and send her on her way.

  It would scare the hell out of her, and it would take time for her to adjust to it.

  He wanted her with him until she accepted it.

  “I don’t know. I’ll have to see how it goes.”

  Noting that she slurred her words, Joshua continued to stroke her back. “I don’t like it. Things are different now. You’re pregnant, and you don’t need to be overtaxing yourself.”

  “Not overtaxing myself. Just want to make sure Mom can handle him before I leave.”

  Joshua bit back a curse, not wanting to upset her. “Do you want to go see Glenna?”

  “In a minute. Too tired. Drove all night.”

  Gritting his teeth, Joshua ran a hand over her hair. “You don’t take care of yourself. I want you here so I can take care of you.”

  “Don’t need to be taken care of. Be quiet. Let me sleep for an hour and then I’ll go see Glenna and Jonas.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  With the feel of his mate settled securely on top of him, Joshua drifted off several times, the restless nights spent missing her catching up with him.

  Having her with him eased most of the tension inside him, allowing him to sleep in relative peace in short spurts, only to awaken again worrying about how he would tell her the truth.

  Each time he woke, he gathered his mate closer, breathing in her scent and reveling in the feel of her softness against him.

  After drifting off for the third time, he woke abruptly, immediately sensing danger.

  Checking to make sure Fiona slept peacefully, Joshua sniffed the air, easily separating the scent of his mate with that of another—a scent that didn’t belong to any of his pack mates.

  It had become a familiar scent—that of an enemy who’d been spying on them.

  It alarmed everyone that whoever it was seemed to be getting braver and coming closer and closer to the farmhouse.

  Anxious to confront any threat to his pack, which now included his mate, her sister, Jonas, and his own unborn child, Joshua eased from under Fiona, settling her comfortably before straightening.

  He paused when she moaned, rubbing her back and murmuring softly to her until she settled again.

  As soon as her breathing evened out again, he grabbed his jeans and rushed out, his bare feet not making a sound as he made his way outside and leapt from the porch.

  To
ssing his jeans around the corner of the house, he shifted on the run, racing toward the scent, his fury growing.

  It didn’t surprise him that Dane Spencer and Miles Jones, in panther form, closed in on either side of him.

  From a distance, he heard the sound of a motorcycle engine starting and ran through the heavy brush toward it.

  They cleared the brush at the top of the hill just in time to watch the motorcycle disappear from view.

  Shifting back into human form, and aware that his pack mates did the same, Joshua wrinkled his nose at the acrid smell of exhaust fumes.

  “I’d hoped he’d given up.”

  Miles followed his gaze and nodded. “It doesn’t appear so. Leland was right. There’s no way this asshole could have gotten away so quickly if he wasn’t a shapeshifter. Why the hell doesn’t he just come talk to us instead of sneaking around?”

  Dane stared off into the distance. “He has to be up to no good. What does he want? And why is he so intent on causing trouble?”

  * * * *

  That was close.

  Too close.

  He waited until he’d put several miles between himself and the men chasing him before pulling over and getting dressed again.

  He knew it had been a daring move, but when he’d seen the other woman come back, he hadn’t been able to resist.

  It was clear she belonged to the big one.

  And the scent of the big one clung to her, just like the scent of the two Alphas clung to the other one.

  The scent he’d noticed in Florida.

  How was that possible?

  It was clear that they cared about the women, which made them vulnerable.

  Weak.

  Hurting them physically would be impossible, but he could hurt them by going after their weakness.

  He just had to plan carefully.

  And keep watching—until an opportunity presented itself.

  Then, he planned to take full advantage of it.